News / avon and somerset police

Police officer drives off with helmet still on top of patrol car

By Martin Booth  Tuesday Aug 31, 2021

Only a helpful delivery driver on a scooter prevented further embarrassment for a police officer who had left their helmet on top of their patrol car.

The helmet had been left on top of the car while it was parked on College Green between the Marriott Royal Hotel and Bristol Cathedral.

And the black custodian helmet was still on top of the car when it was driven away towards the centre soon after 4pm on Monday afternoon.

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One scooter rider heading in the direction of Park Street attempted to get the driver’s attention before another delivery rider pulled up alongside the police car, pointing to their own helmet and then the helmet still on top of the vehicle.

It was only then that the police officer driving the car realised the mistake and pulled in at the traffic lights, with the policeman in the passenger seat opening the door and reaching up to the roof to retrieve the helmet.

It is unknown whether the helmet belonged to the driver of the car or the passenger.

What is known is that the guilty party will now be eligible to provide cakes for their colleagues due to a fun system of fines issued by the police for such misdemeanours.

There is even a website devoted to the fictitious Police Cakes (Offences) Act 2018, with losing equipment and appearing in the media both subject to fines.

The policeman in the passenger seat of the car eventually retrieved the helmet – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo & video: Martin Booth

Read more: Former chief constable named CEO of College of Policing

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